Investigation on residue of atrazine and fluchloralin in maize (Zea mays)-chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and maize (Zea mays)-Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) cropping sequences

An experiment was conducted during rainy (khafif) and winter (rabi) season of 1994-95 and 1995-96 to study the effect of atrazine and fluchloralin in maize (Zea mays L.)-chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.)-I ndian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson] cropping sequences. A trazine was degraded to not detectable limit at all the doses (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 kg/ha) by the time maize crop harvested. The average half-life of atra zine varied from 23 to 25 days in the first year and 26 to 31 days in the s econd year. Residues of fluchloralin was detected in soil even at the time of harvest of chickpea and Indian mustard. However, the magnitude of fluchl oralin persistence was not influenced by preceding atrazine treatments appl ied to maize. The maize yield declined with an increase in atrazine dose an d was lowest at 2.0 kg/ha.